Painted in Sin

1| The Letter and The Great Escape

I folded the letter and slid it inside the book I was reading. Was this some sick joke or prank? What kind of an idiot would do such a thing? I had tried ignoring the first letter but tens of different owls came and delivered it over and over again. OWLS in England! I know right! But I was partially convinced that this was the real deal. Once again, I slid the letter out and re-read it.

Ms. Y/N Angelov,

 15 New Road,

 Swindon, Wiltshire.

Dear Ms. Angelov,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Hogwart's school of witchcraft and wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. The term begins on September 1. We will await your owl no later than July 31.

Yours Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall.

Deputy Headmistress.

Shutting the book with a soft slam, I rubbed my temples. It seemed genuine and I thought it was legit. But even so, how the fuck was I going to tell my parents? They think I'm a freak already, ad to that a witch. Brilliant.

We await your owl? What the bloody hell was that supposed to mean? Am I expected to have an owl?

A crash from downstairs shook me out of my reverie. I rushed downstairs to hear my father and mother yelling. Dad had a broken bottle in his hand and was brandishing it dangerously close to mom's face. I ran to them and pushed him back. In the process, he tripped on a shoe lying carelessly and fell backward.

I am so fucked.

He got up slowly, not once breaking eye contact. He walked painfully slow towards me and I started backing away. He had a wolfish look on his face, and I regretted ever intervening. He grabbed my wrist roughly and took me to the bedroom, shutting the door. Pinning me against the wall, he growled,

"You've been a bad girl, Y/N. You know what I do to bad girls, don't you?" His fingers brushed precariously low on my neckline. I felt so disgusted and my eyes started brimming over.

"I'm sorry dad I didn't mean to push you over. I-"

"But you did." He cut me off and started pushing my sleeves off my shoulder.

"Please dad, stop! Please, I promise I'll be good!"

My cries were all but ignored and he kept doing what he was going to do, wildly and mercilessly. I yelled calling my mother for help but she was probably enjoying this more than him. Tears streamed down my face as I begged him to stop.

An hour later I sat whimpering in the corner, feeling disgusted and violated. There were marks all over my body and bruises on my legs and face. I tried to stand up but the pain in my core flared and I fell back down with a cry. Burying my face in my hands, I tried to cry as silently as possible. My father violated my body but what hurt the most was that my mother, who is biologically designed to love me, didn't even stop him. Didn't even try.

Suddenly, I had a thought. Why do I let them do this to me? Why let them taint my innocence when I can leave? The idea of running away had been in my mind ever since dad- no, he isn't worthy of being called my father anymore. Ever since that nasty brute started coming home drunk and beating my mom senseless and abusing me. But up till now, I had nowhere to go. Hogwarts, if that place was even real, was my only possible haven. It was a very risky gamble, but one I was willing to take.

-- Time skip --

I could hear both of them snoring softly in the other room. I double-checked my backpack to see if I had everything I would probably need. I tiptoed outside and saw that drunkard wallet out on the table. I smiled at his idiocy and swiped it quickly.

I went back to my room, added the letter and wallet to my pack, and opened the window slightly. Swinging one leg over the sill, then the other, I held myself in place by gripping the window sill. Letting my bag fall to the ground, I dropped on it gently.

I had memorized the bus schedule and if I was right, the next bus was due in ten minutes. I bought a ticket using that oaf's money. Boarding it, I plopped down on the last seat and plugged in my earphones, listening to my playlist, an unfamiliar feeling of freedom washing over me.